pexels-mart-production-7415035

The Veterans Center assist with eligibility and application assistance with the Georgia Mortgage and Rental assistance program.

US Treasury Department allocated $9.9 billion to states and territories through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. 

The Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) was established to mitigate financial hardships associated with the coronavirus pandemic by providing funds for the purpose of preventing homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities, and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship after January 21, 2020.

Differences between Mortgage & Rental

Mortgage

Georgia homeowners who suffered a pandemic hardship that caused a significant financial hardship, resulting in a need for:

  • mortgage
  • housing expense assistance

Eligibility

  • Applicants:
    • An applicant means all homeowners and borrowers living in the home, plus the spouse of the homeowner (if married); all applicants must be included on the application.
    • The homeowner, borrower, or spouse with the pandemic related financial hardship must have been living in the home at the time of hardship and continued to live in the home.
      • A homeowner, if not the person with the hardship, must have been living in the home with the borrower or spouse at the time of hardship and continued to live in the home.
    • All applicants must meet Georgia residency requirements.
  • Property:
    • The home must be in Georgia.
    • The home must be the primary residence and have been purchased, owned, or inherited prior to the hardship.
      • Investment, vacant, or second homes cannot be considered.
      • Applicants who own more than one home cannot be considered for assistance if the primary residence cannot be determined or the residency does not meet the requirements.
    • The home must be in the name of a natural person, not a trust, business, or LLC.
  • Mortgage:
    • The mortgage lender or servicer must be participating in the program to receive mortgage assistance.
    • If there is a mortgage on the home, it must have met conforming loan requirements at the time of origination.
    • A manufactured home loan can be considered for assistance.
  • Income:
    • The income of the homeowner, borrower, and spouse residing in the home must be equal to or less than 100% Area Median Income for their county of residence, OR
    • The income of the homeowner, borrower, and spouse residing in the home must be equal to or less than 150% Area Median Income for their county of residence if the homeowner, borrower, or spouse are considered a socially disadvantaged individual. (Refer to “What are the Income Requirements?” for more details.)
  • Hardship:
    • The homeowner, borrower, or the spouse living in the home must have suffered a financial hardship related to the pandemic, that caused a need for assistance.
      • The hardship occurred after January 21, 2020.
      • The hardship was due to a significant loss of income OR due to a significant increase in expenses.
    • Documentation of the hardship may be required.
    • Financial hardships that were cured through other grants or assistance or unrelated to the pandemic cannot be considered.
  • Additional underwriting criteria apply.
Apply for Mortgage Assistance up to 50K

Rental

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs will begin
administering the State of Georgia Rental Assistance Program (GRA) in early March 2021. GRA can help renters with their past due rent and utilities.

Payment will be made directly to landlords and utility providers. More information on program details and how to apply will be added to this page as soon as the online application portal is ready.

Below are some of the federal guidelines for the program.

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

GRA can serve renter households who meet the following conditions: qualified for unemployment benefits, experienced a reduction in household income or other financial hardship as of March 13, 2020, or incurred significant costs; AND demonstrates a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; AND has a combined household income at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI).

Households with incomes that fall below 50% AMI will be prioritized. Households are also prioritized where one or more household members are unemployed and have been unemployed for 90 days.

What documents will a tenant need to show eligibility?

Renters will need the following general types of documents/items (e.g., copies, pictures, screenshots, etc.) along with their signed, fully completed application. The application and portal will specify the actual documents required.

  • Identification (State ID or a passport)
  • Income documents for every adult (age 18 and older) in the household and unearned income attributable to a minor
  • Past due rent notice or past due utility bills
  • Copy of the lease
  • Proof of unemployment qualification OR documents showing a reduction in income, significant costs, or financial hardship
  • If applying for utility assistance copies of your most recent utility bills showing the amount owed, the utility provider and account number

What documents will the landlord need to provide?

  • Completed GRA Landlord Application
  • Identification
  • Proof of ownership and Authorization/Agreement to act on behalf of owner if management company
  • Copy of the lease
  • Ledger showing tenant’s payment history in 2020 and 2021
  • W-9 and bank information for ACH payment
Schedule One on One Appointment